Rotary Cares for Kids

District 5010 Rotarians! We have a Mission that we need your support to accomplish!

What is the mission? To provide comfort and promote self-worth at the very emotional and difficult time to Alaskan children who are transitioning thru foster care through our new district project, Rotary 5010 Cares for Kids. The goal is to ensure that no child is met with a garbage bag when moving into or around the childcare system by providing age appropriate backpacks with Rotary branded blankets, personal care and comfort items.

Last year in the Mat-Su, South East Alaska and Nome areas alone, 945 children were Out of Home (OOH), 297 were removed from their home and 244 were discharged from Foster Care. The average child faces two placement changes while in foster care. While OCS Officers work hard to avoid this, some children are handed a garbage bag in which to place their belongings when they are removed from their home or relocated. With Rotary 5010 Cares for Kids, backpacks with age appropriate items will be given to children being removed from their primary residence and duffle bags will be distributed to youth being moved between foster homes or when aging out of foster care. All bags will be distributed at the discretion of OCS.

Our pilot project will include Mat-Su, South East Alaska, and Nome. The Rotary 5010 Cares for Kids committee will work with State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services (OCS) field offices in our partner areas to determine need and establish a protocol for request and distribution. Even though we are starting with a pilot program with three areas, OCS will be able to make requests for the entire state and have access to the backpacks and duffle bags. We want to make sure this is a sustainable program and want to get all the logistics figured out before we launch a statewide program.

We recognize that there may be many other needs and we encourage Rotary Clubs to get involved where they can. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these children.

Watch our Rotary Cares for Kids Facebook page as well as the District 5010 Website for updates on the project and how you can get involved.

If you would like to personally donate to the project, ARCS is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.